Wheel



G. T. BALFE Dec. 12, 1933.

WHEEL Filed June 30, 1931 mventor mye Sa/f@ 1%@ Dm* (Ittornegs iPatented Dec. 1,2, 1 933 WHEEL Georg-'e yalfe, 'j Detroit, Mich.,assigner to Detroit Gasket & Mfg. Co., Detroit,vMi ch., a corporation ofMichigan Application Juneeo, 1,931. serial Namibie 4 crains. o1.-1522 0)The vpresent invention relates to wheels, and specifically to the llrimsthereof, and has lto do "withan improved liner and securing meanstherefor for-'holding the liner at all times in opera- 5 tivefposition,V y

With present constructions of this character,-

the linerfis subject to weather conditions, causing it to buckle anddetach itself orride off the .'rim, and fituisi' this tendency which thepresent invention'seeks to overcome. Also, with presentconventional-stnctures, the application of the liner totheirirnfrequires considerable time and telfort, whereas the presentinvention seeks to l"pi"ovide a construction which will enable the linerto beapplied and removed quickly andeasily.

" A` further-object of the invention is to produce an inexpensiveconstruction and one which can `be manufactured in large quantities andapplied without the necessity for skilled labor.

In the drawing:-

Figure 1 is a sectional View.

Figure 2 is a perspective view, and

Figure 3 is a perspective view.

The numeral 10 indicates the conventional wire wheel rim, and thenumeral 11 the usual pneumatic tire within which is disposed an innertube 12.

While I have illustrated the invention in connection with a drop-centerrim, it will be understood that it can be applied to all types of rimsand wherever it is desired to protect the inner tube from wear bycontact with the rough, exposed surface of the rim.

The improved liner of this invention is indicated at 13, and ispreferably a flexible composite material having a cloth finished surfaceon one side 14 which abuts the surface of the inner tube and an adhesivecork layer on the opposite side l5 which contacts with the surface ofthe rim.

It will be understood that any other suitable flexible material may beused in the manufacture of the liner, there being several commercialmaterials available for this purpose.

The liner will be cut from a strip of material to a length so that itmay be disposed about the exposed surface of the rim in the form of aband.

At the ends of the band, the liner or protector is provided withopenings 16, which are preferably circular and are preferably sodisposed that when the ends of the band are overlapped, the edges willcoincide and the respective opening 16 will register.

The band 13 is applied to the rim, as shown in Figure 1, and the edgesthereof overlapped, as

shown at 1'?, As is well understood, the rim is provided with anvopening lito permit thevalve tube stem 19, connected to theinnentube,to project through the rim'. f :w l

r .In positioning the Aband, the registering Aopen- I :Iings 16 arebroughtinto register Withthe-opening 18 for a purpose which-will nowbe'described. Referring to Figure 3,. there is'illustrated one type of'connecting member 20 :which I employ for the dual purpose of'connecting the overlapped ends of the band 13 and securing the band tothe This member 20'. may bev of A.yieldable material,

v such as rubber, metal, and, in fact, any lcomposite material whichwill be eective for thev purpose, and will preferablybe resilient. it yI The member 20, `as 'will be observed, is tubular, as shown in Fig. 3,andfthe ends of the tube .are provided with circular an'gesZl. i n

Referring now to Figure 1, it will be assumed that the band has beenpositioned tightly upon the rim, with its overlapping ends bringing theopenings 16 into register with each other and with the opening 18 in therim.

In order to obtain a simple and effective securing of the said ends intheir overlapping engagement and to bind them to the rim, the separablemember 2S is buttoned through the registering openings 16 and 18, sothat one of the fianges contacts with the exposed surface of the topoverlapping portion of the band, and the other flange contacts with theexposed portion of the rim.

Where a resilient material is used, this can be readily accomplished,and. where a metal bushing or separable member 2G is employed, one ofthe flanges, preferably that which contacts with the exposed portion ofthe rim, Will not be formed until after the tubular member has beenpositioned, When the tube will be bent over after thev manner of agrommet. Also, the tubular member may have a threaded portion to receivea threaded stem carrying a flange where a metal construction isemployed.

By reason of the present invention, it will be clear that the liner orprotector may be tightly positioned in the exposed surface of the rimand securely held to the rim by the simple expedient of applying theflexible or resilient button 20, or a button 20 of resilient metal.

It will be observed that the member 20 in any event being substantiallycircular in cross section, will provide a satisfactory bushing for thevalve stem, thereby protecting the edges of the liner openings againstWear, as well as the edges of the rim opening.

A .be nolikelihood 'of wear said'flange21z" f As stated, the flanges `21act to clamp the three K comprising the rim and the two ,overlap--tpingportions ofthe linexzxandit will be lunder- The valve stem 19 isthreaded at 22 and -re ceives the usual nut 23 which is secured thereonto firmly engage the rim. A suitable washe'nay be interposed betweenthenutl and the adjacent flange 21 of the separablefinembenfsuch" washerbeing of metal, leather, or other desiredmaterial.

On the other hand, I have Afpoundgit desirable to provide the nut 23with 'a circular recess 24 of suicient area to freely receive theadjacent ange 21, so that as the nut is turned, there will upon the'material of the ,-stood1that since the liner 'is' ofrexible materialand 'compressible, that where a rigid Vbutton is employed, .it willactto resilientlycompress the three parts togetherand hold them tightly.

`Iclaim: a -f 1. The combination with a wheel rim, of a nexibleprotecting liner therefor positioned in the exposed surface of the rimtoengage and protect the tube of a tire carried b'y the rim,' said linerhaving its abutting'endsrpro'vided with openings .and the .endsoverlapped to, bring said openings into register with each-other, andwith the valveA stem opening' in the rim,`and an independent yieldablemember having flanges at its ends, p0- sitioned in the registeringopenings to connect the ends of the liner and secure the same to therim, the flange on one end of the member engaging over the liner and theflange on the other end of the member engaging over the rim.

2. The combination of a wheel rim, of a ilexible protecting linertherefor, and an independent fastening member of yieldable material`rconnecting the ends of the liner, said fastening member extendingthrough the valve stem opening of the rim, and having a means forsecuring the liner to the rim.

3. A wheel rim liner adapted to be positioned upon the outer surface ofa wheel rim and to be secured thereto to contact with the inner tube -ofa tire assembled upon the rim, comprising a strip of exible material,valve stem openings in -the ends of the liner, a fastening memberengaging in said openings for securing the ends of Vthe liner together,said fastening member also vadapted to be received in the valve stemopening of the wheel rim and having means thereon for engaging the innersurface of said rimto'secure the liner thereto and hold it in position.

4. A wheel rim liner adapted to be positioned upon the outer Suriace ofa wheel rim and to be vSecured thereto Yto contaet with theinner'tube of

